According to a report for Polygon, “Avatar: Seven Havens” — the newest entry in the franchise’s animated universe — arrives more than a decade after “The Legend of Korra,” serving as what the writer calls a “brilliant rebuttal of every single angry Avatar fan and meddling studio executive who ever tried to tear down The Legend of Korra.”
The original series finale aired on Dec. 19, 2014, when Nickelodeon released its final two episodes online. While the writer recalls it as one of their favorite endings, they note notable flaws: a slashed budget that forced animators to rely on still images for pivotal scenes, and a planned kiss between Korra and Asami that studio executives rejected in favor of some charged hand-holding.
A “small but vocal contingent” of fans reportedly rejected the premise of a rebellious young female Avatar as a replacement for Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender, casting what the writer describes as “a dark cloud over the whole enterprise.” Even devoted Korra fans, according to the report, found the overall experience imperfect.
The franchise has now returned with the first three episodes of Avatar: Seven Havens streaming on Paramount Plus. The writer praises its animation by French studio La Chouette Compagnie and worldbuilding from returning creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, calling it a “brilliant rebuttal” to critics of the earlier series.
A post-apocalyptic world that blames Korra
“Seven Havens” is set 200 years after “Legend of Korra,” when a mysterious calamity has undone the industrial revolution depicted across the previous shows. Instead of Republic City or Ba Sing Se, the world now features seven fortified “havens” scattered across inhospitable desert.
According to everyone in this world, the fall of civilization is entirely Korra’s fault. The opening credits establish that she caused some apocalyptic event, transforming public perception of the Avatar from humanity’s savior into its destroyer. In this version of events, Korra has become a “boogeyman,” with murals depicting her as a monstrous elemental force and actors performing plays about the evil Avatar who doomed civilization.
This setup allows two new Avatars — identical twins named Nisha and Pavi — to hide their powers and train in secret. The writer suggests that by painting Korra, known as “a heroic if somewhat flawed figure,” as a monster, the show turns all criticism of its predecessor into something “blatantly absurd.”
The report notes it seems “fairly obvious from the get go” that Korra did not actually cause the calamity intentionally. Trailers have hinted at seeing more of her character, and the writer assumes viewers will eventually learn exactly what happened — expecting a reveal “more nuanced than ‘Korra was evil the whole time.'”
A return to younger protagonists
In some ways, the new series reminds the writer more of “The Last Airbender” than “The Legend of Korra.” Centering the story on a child-aged Avatar instead of a teenager gives it what they describe as a youthful exuberance that feels less serious — and currently less mature — than its predecessor.
The writer expects the show to become “a lot less childish once the stakes ratchet up,” potentially combining the energy of “The Last Airbender” with the maturity of “The Legend of Korra.” They conclude by hoping DiMartino and Konietzko can nail the ending, free from outside interference.
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